Young Ambassadors set for championship volunteering

"The championships will make history for Swansea and showcase the importance of volunteering."

The ambassadors will be carrying out a range of duties throughout the five-day event, including helping out with medal ceremonies and assisting in the field of play to ensure the championships run as smoothly as possible.

Swansea Council's young ambassadors are in place to raise the profile of sport across the city and inspire other young people to make the most of sport and exercise opportunities.

All volunteers at the championships will be given training before getting the chance to experience the buzz of international athletics.

Molly Davies-Briskham, a student at Gower College Swansea, is one of the young ambassadors who's signed up to be a volunteer champion.

Molly, who won the 2013 Young Volunteer of the Year category at the annual Swansea sports awards, is a Platinum Young Ambassador and Equality Champion.

She said: "Volunteering at the championships is an amazing one-time experience to witness world class sport up close. For the people of Swansea it's a brilliant opportunity to showcase the best of Swansea's sporting facilities and our unique sporting city.

"As an Equality Champion it is an event that is very close to my heart that I'm looking forward to getting involved with. I was lucky enough to speak at the launch of the Championships logo back in August last year and even then the excitement was clearly visible. The championships will make history for Swansea and showcase the importance of volunteering."

The championships, being held at Swansea University's International Sports Village from August 18 to August 23, are being delivered by Swansea University in partnership with Swansea Council, Disability Sport Wales, British Athletics, Welsh Athletics and the Welsh Government. It will be the biggest Paralympic event ever held in Wales.

Around 600 of Europe's best athletes will be competing for honours in the championships as they make their preparations for the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016. The event will feature a wealth of Paralympians, World Champions and record holders from over 40 countries.

Tickets are available online via the Swansea 2014 website and from local outlets such as Swansea City Tourist Information Centre on Plymouth Street and Penyrheol Leisure Centre.

Swansea 2014 will be the fourth IPC Athletics European Championships having previously been held in Stadskanaal, Netherlands; Espoo, Finland and Assen, Netherlands. The championships are expected to attract up to 20,000 athletes, officials, spectators and visitors from across Europe.